News from the Library of Congress

April 25, 2008

Forthcoming Events at the Library of Congress

May - August 2008

Events subject to change; all telephone numbers are 202 area code

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MAY 2008

May 1ThursdayASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHA traditional Lao dance performance is followed by a Lao-American fashion show in a program co-sponsored by the Library’s Office of Workforce Diversity and the Lao American Women Association at 1 p.m. in the Mumford Room. Contact: 707-2101.

May 1ThursdayPANEL DISCUSSIONThe Law Library of Congress celebrates the 50th anniversary of Law Day with an examination of what the Rule of Law means to established and to emerging countries at 1 p.m. in the Northeast Hall and Pavilion of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Reservations are required. Contact: 707-9834.

May 1ThursdayIRANIAN FILM SERIES"Safar-i Qandahar" or "Kandahar" (Makhmalbaf Film House – Bac Films, Iran/France, 2001). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Reservations may be made by phone beginning one week before any given show. Call 707-5677 during business hours. Reserved seats must be claimed at least 10 minutes before showtime, after which standbys will be admitted to unclaimed seats. All programs are free, but seating is limited to 60 seats.

May 2FridayCONCERTThe Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia presents an evening of Beethoven and Mozart at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required for this event; they are distributed by Ticketmaster at (301) 808-6900 or (410) 752-1200 and are limited to two per call. Each ticket carries a service charge of $2.75, with additional charges for phone orders and handling. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com. Although the supply of tickets may be exhausted, there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to try for standby seats at the will-call desk in the Jefferson Building by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings. Contact: 707-5502.

May 6TuesdayLECTURETom Sever, NASA archaeologist, presents a talk on "Avoiding the Fate of the Mayans" in a program co-sponsored by the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5664.

May 6TuesdayBOOKS & BEYONDMadeleine Albright discusses and signs her book "Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership" in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book at noon in LJ 119. Contact: 707-5221.

May 6TuesdayLECTUREMarine Corps Capt. Eric Navarro discusses his book "God Willing: My Wild Ride with the New Iraqi Army" in a program sponsored by the LCPA Veterans' Forum at noon in LM 139. Contact: 707-5034.

May 6TuesdayMYRON M. WEINSTEIN MEMORIAL LECTUREMarsha Rozenblit, Harvey M. Meyerhoff Professor of Modern Jewish History at the University of Maryland, delivers the annual Myron M. Weinstein Memorial Lecture at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reservations are required. Contact: 707-3779.

May 7WednesdayASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHMichelle Rhee, chancellor of Washington, D.C. public schools, delivers the keynote address in a program sponsored by the Library’s Office of Workforce Diversity at 1 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-2101.

May 7WednesdayJEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHJoan Nathan will speak following a screening of clips from her PBS series "Jewish Cooking in America" at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. The program is being sponsored by the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division. Contact: 707-3779.

May 8ThursdayEXHIBITION OPENING"Alvin Ailey: 50 Years as Cultural Ambassador to the World" features material from the Library’s Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Archive and selected items from the Lester Horton Dance Theater Collection, including images of choreographic works and examples of Ailey’s most notable creations such as "Cry" and "Revelations." The exhibition, which closes Sept. 6, is on view Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the foyer of the Performing Arts Reading Room. Contact: 707-4604.

May 8ThursdayLECTURESunil Iyengar, director of research and analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts, discusses the agency’s report "To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence" in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5221.

May 8ThursdayPOETRY READINGPoet Laureate Charles Simic closes the literary season in a program sponsored by the Poetry and Literature Center at 6:45 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-5394.

May 9FridayCONCERTThe St. Petersburg Quartet, with violist Michael Tree, performs Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Dvořák at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See May 2 entry for contact and ticket information.

May 12MondayCEREMONYFormer Poet Laureate Robert Hass hosts the River of Words awards ceremony for winners of the 2007-2008 environmental poetry and art contest for young people in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book at 10 a.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-5221.

May 12MondayDIGITAL NATIVES LECTURE SERIESSteven Berlin Johnson presents a talk on his book "Everything Bad is Good for You" in a program sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center at 4 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-2692.

May 15ThursdayJEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHProfessor Marc Lee Raphael presents a lecture on "The Columbia History of Jews and Judaism in America" at noon in the African and Middle Eastern Division. Contact: 707-3779.

May 16FridayCONCERTThe Parker String Quartet and Borromeo String Quartet join together in concert playing works by Tchaikovsky, Steven Mackey and György Kurtág at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See May 2 entry for contact and ticket information.

May 17SaturdayWORKSHOPPlayers from area musical groups are invited to join students of the New England Conservatory preparatory division for a music master class at 10 a.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Contact: 707-5503.

May 17SaturdayCONCERTThe Parker String Quartet and Borromeo String Quartet perform works by Beethoven and Dvorak at 2 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

May 20TuesdayLECTUREMitch Yockelson will discuss his book "Borrowed Soldiers: Americans Under British Command, 1918" in a program sponsored by the Library’s Veterans’ Forum at noon in LM 139. Contact: 707-5034.

May 21WednesdayBENJAMIN BOTKIN LECTUREJonathan Dueck, visiting assistant professor of ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland, presents "Empires, Multiculturalisms and Borrowed Heartsongs: What Does it Mean to Sing Russian/Mennonite Songs" in a program sponsored by the American Folklife Center at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5510.

May 22ThursdayKLUGE CENTER LECTUREKluge Fellow Karen Carter presents a talk on her research "Art in the Streets: Late 19th Century French Posters" at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-2692.

May 22ThursdayLECTUREFormer New York Times correspondent Adam Clymer discusses his book "Drawing the Line at the Big Ditch: The Panama Canal Treaties and the Rise of the Right" in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5221.

May 23FridayPANEL DISCUSSIONLiterary critics and poets discuss the lasting influence of Mexican Nobel Laureate Octavio Paz from 2 – 6 p.m. in the Mumford Room. The program is being co-sponsored by the Library’s Hispanic Division and Poetry and Literature Center along with the Embassy of Mexico and the Institute of Mexican Culture. Contact: 707-2013.

May 23FridayCONCERTAyodele Casel, Tappers with Attitude, Dianne Walker, Baakari Wilder and others present a multigenerational tapfest celebrating the legacy of the great William "Bojangles" Robinson at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See May 2 entry for contact and ticket information.

May 26MondayMEMORIAL DAYAll Library buildings are closed in observance of the federal Memorial Day holiday.

May 28WednesdayHOMEGROWN CONCERT Opalanga Pugh presents African-American storytelling and music from Colorado as part of the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5510.

May 28WednesdayASIAN/PACIFC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHThe Library’s Office of Workforce Diversity is hosting a multi-cultural program featuring a traditional Korean drum and fan dance performance by the Asian American Arts Center at 12:30 p.m. in the Mumford Room. Contact: 707-2101.

May 29ThursdayKLUGE CENTER LECTUREKluge Staff Fellow Steve Stathis presents a lecture on his research project "Congress: Crucible of American Democracy" at 4 p.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-2692.

May 29ThursdayCONCERTThe Library of Congress begins its year-long salute to Elliott Carter’s centenary with a performance of his Quintet for Piano and String Quartet at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See May 2 entry for contact and ticket information.

May 31SaturdayCONCERTThe Barnatan/Ferschtman/Weilerstein Trio presents a program of Schubert at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See May 2 entry for contact and ticket information.

JUNE 2008

June 3TuesdayTUDORS ON FILM SERIES"Anne of a Thousand Days" (Universal, U.K., 1969). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Reservations may be made by phone beginning one week before any given show. Call 707-5677 during business hours. Reserved seats must be claimed at least 10 minutes before showtime, after which standbys will be admitted to unclaimed seats. All programs are free, but seating is limited to 60 seats.

June 4WednesdayLECTUREPeter Hildebrand presents a talk on "Earth’s Water Cycle in a Changing Climate" in a program co-sponsored by the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5664.

June 12ThursdayKLUGE CENTER LECTUREKluge Fellow Claudia Haake presents a lecture on her research project "The Roots of Identity: Indigenous Societies and Land in the Americas" at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-2692.

June 12ThursdayBOOK TALKDerek Chollet and Jim Goldgeier discuss their book "America Between the Wars" in a program sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center at 4 p.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-2692.

June 17TuesdayLECTUREAuthor Pearl Sofaer discusses her book "From Baghdad to Bombay: In the Kitchens of My Cousins" at noon in the West Dining Room. The event is being co-sponsored by the African and Middle Eastern and the Asian divisions. Contact: 707-3779.

June 19ThursdayHOMEGROWN CONCERTMarita Halili and the Raif Hyseni Orchestra present a program of Albanian music from New York state, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center, at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5510.

June 19ThursdayJAPAN AT WAR FILM SERIES"Gekido no showashi–Okinawa kessen" or "The Battle of Okinawa" (Toho, 1971). 7 p.m., Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-5677.

June 20FridayBENJAMIN BOTKIN LECTURE SERIESEthel Raim, director of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, presents a talk on "A Conversation in Fieldwork: The Balkans and the Urban Landscape of New York City" in a program sponsored by the American Folklife Center at 11 a.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5510.

June 23MondayDIGITAL NATIVES LECTURE SERIESMichael Wesch, assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University, presents a talk on "The Anthropology of YouTube" in a program sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center at 4 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-2692.

June 30MondayDIGITAL NATIVES LECTURE SERIESDouglas Rushkoff, author of "Screenagers: Lessons in Chaos from Digital Kids" discusses "Open Source Reality" in a program sponsored by the John W. Kluge Center at 4 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-2692.

JULY 2008

July 4FridayINDEPENDENCE DAYAll Library buildings are closed in observance of the federal Independence Day holiday.

July 10ThursdayKLUGE CENTER LECTUREKluge Fellow Chitralekha Zutshi presents a talk on her research project "Sociocultural History of the Kashmiri Shawl" at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-2692.

July 17ThursdayKLUGE CENTER LECTUREKluge Fellow Geert Buelens presents a talk on his research "National and/or European Identity in the Avant-Garde and Traditional Poetry of the First World War" at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-2692.

July 24ThursdayHOMEGROWN CONCERTThe Zionaires present gospel music from Delaware as part of the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5510.

AUGUST 2008

Aug. 20WednesdayHOMEGROWN CONCERTGary Hameleau and his band perform Hawaiian slack-key guitar from Nevada, another in the Homegrown Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center, at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5510.

The Library of Congress occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the original Library of Congress building; it is located at 10 First St. S.E., across from the U.S. Capitol. The John Adams Building is directly behind the Jefferson Building to the east on Second St. S.E. The James Madison Memorial Building, at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., is just south of the Jefferson Building.

When attending events at the Library, allow extra time to pass through Library security.

Request ADA accommodations five days in advance at 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

CONCERTS: Tickets are required for all Library of Congress Music Division concerts. They are available five weeks ahead of the event for a nominal charge of $2.75 per ticket (maximum of two tickets per person), with additional charges for phone orders and handling, from Ticketmaster by calling (301) 808-6900, (410) 752-1200, (800) 551-7328, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets for popular events are claimed quickly, but there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to request standby seats by appearing at the will-call desk by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings. All concerts are held in the Coolidge Auditorium, located on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.